1997–98 IHL season explained

1997-98 IHL season
League:	International Hockey League
Sport:	Ice hockey
Duration:	October 2, 1997 – June 15, 1998
No Of Games:	82
No Of Teams:	18
Season:	Regular season
Season Champ Name:	Fred A. Huber Trophy
Mvp:	Patrice Lefebvre (Thunder)
Mvp Link:	James Gatschene Memorial Trophy
Top Scorer:	Patrice Lefebvre (Thunder)
Top Scorer Link:	Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy
Season Champs:	Long Beach Ice Dogs
Playoffs:	Playoffs
Playoffs Mvp:	Alexander Semak (Wolves)
Playoffs Mvp Link:	Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy (IHL)
Finals:	Turner Cup
Finals Link:	Turner Cup
Finals Champ:	Chicago Wolves
Finals Runner-Up:	Detroit Vipers
Prevseason Year:	1996–97
Nextseason Year:	1998–99

The 1997–98 IHL season was the 53rd season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. 18 teams participated in the regular season, and the Chicago Wolves won the Turner Cup. Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play one shift for the Detroit Vipers in the middle of this season.

Regular season

Eastern Conference

Central Division	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
	82	47	29	0	6	270	243	100
	82	40	30	0	12	275	254	92
	82	40	36	0	6	245	261	86
	82	35	37	0	10	228	262	80
	82	36	39	0	7	223	261	79

Northeast Division	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
	82	47	20	0	15	267	232	109
	82	42	30	0	10	258	251	94
	82	38	31	0	13	225	242	89
	82	27	48	0	7	211	292	61

Western Conference

Midwest Division	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
	82	55	24	0	3	301	258	113
	82	41	29	0	12	269	258	94
	82	43	34	0	5	267	262	91
	82	39	36	0	7	269	254	85

Southwest Division	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
	82	53	20	0	9	282	210	115
	82	50	22	0	10	268	214	110
	82	47	27	0	8	276	234	102
	82	33	39	0	10	260	305	76
	82	25	49	0	8	233	334	58

Awards

1998 IHL awards
	Chicago Wolves
Fred A. Huber Trophy (Best regular-season record)	Long Beach Ice Dogs
Frank Gallagher Trophy: (Eastern Conference playoff champion)	Detroit Vipers
Ken Ullyot Trophy: (Western Conference playoff champion)	Chicago Wolves
Comeback Player of the Year Award	Mike Tomlak, Milwaukee Admirals
Commissioner's Trophy (Best coach)	John Torchetti, Fort Wayne Komets
Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy (Best first-year player)	Todd White, Indianapolis Ice
Governor's Trophy (Best defenceman)	Dan Lambert, Long Beach Ice Dogs
I. John Snider, II Trophy (Leadership and humanitarian contribution)	Rod Miller, Utah Grizzlies
Ironman Award (Best two-way player over 82 games)	Doug Ast, Long Beach Ice Dogs
James Gatschene Memorial Trophy (Most valuable player, regular season)	Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas Thunder
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Goaltenders with lowest GAA)	Mike Buzak and Kay Whitmore, Long Beach Ice Dogs
Ken McKenzie Trophy (Best U.S.-born first-year player)	Eric Nickulas, Orlando Solar Bears
Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy (Player with most points)	Patrice Lefebvre, Las Vegas Thunder
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy (Most valuable player, playoffs)	Alexander Semak, Chicago Wolves

External links

• Season 1997/98 on hockeydb.com